Review: James Clyde and the Diamonds Orchestra

Children face great danger to protect the memory of the one they loved.

James, an orphan, is always delighted for the opportunity to visit his grandfather. Until, Gramps, is murdered over a diamond, and James put in the middle of the whole fiasco. He is transported into a magical universe called Orchestra. His mission: to protect a wish-granting diamond from the clutches of an evil queen and a man in black. 

Of course, the story wouldn't be as entertaining without some loyal sidekicks. McElwain, did a great job with Ben and Mary. Both of them are brave and witty, encouraging James to strive despite the circumstances. But what really steals the show is the atmosphere of the book. The descriptions were well conceptualized and the text easy to follow for a middle-grader, filled with short chapters. 

Touching and uplifting.

Caught my arrow #24

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

First October Weekend! Hope everyone is having a nice fall (hehe, just noticed the pun).

Received from Scholastic 
(Thank you very much!!)

Inhuman

Spirit Animals

Marie Antoinette, Serial killer

Bought

Star Wars Jedi Academy

Whatever After 4

Borrowed from Library

Shatter me (about time I read this)

What are you reading this week?

Feature and Follow Friday: Am I missing out

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: What book (or TV show or movie) have you not read that seemingly everyone else has?

Books : Beautiful Disaster, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Shadow and Bone, Obsidian, Easy, Under the Never Sky

TV Shows: Breaking Bad, The Tudors, True Blood

MOVIES: A Beautiful Mind, All about Eve, The Help, The Hobbit, The Cabin in the Woods 

Review: Hereafter

It's official, we have our answers.

Last January, Shadowlands, ended in a massive cliffhanger with lots of questions marks. Rory Miller was being chased by an obsessed teacher/serial killer who received his comeuppance when her new friends from Juniper Landing "took care" of him before telling Rory that she was stuck in the island forever.

Hereafter continues right were it left off. This time, Kate Brian develops the role of Joaquim a lot better, although too many things are going on for the possibility of any romance whatsoever. With the disappearance of Steven Nell,  a new evil character will take his spot, providing the story with a dash of mystery once again. 

The point-of-view switch still fells unnecessary, but the turnabout in Rory's life makes the book impossible to put down.  

                                              

Other books in the series

Shadowlands

Top Ten Tuesday: Irks and Pains

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP TURN-OFFS YOU ENCOUNTER WHILE READING

Too Many Clichés and Non-Original Stories

I'm glad we have moved on from the Mary-Sue Syndrome that infected YA. Girls are just as brave as boys and can handle life without running to hide in a corner.

Also, when you read a lot of books per month, originality is always a plus. 

Open Endings 

An open ending to me is a clear sign of a lazy author who wrote too long without a plan. Enough said! I will always remember throwing Ira Levin's book out the window (I have a backyard so no one got hurt) when it turned out that the whole series had been a dream. 

No Character Growth

An immature voice through the entire book, or simply, a dude who doesn't value his relationship and shows up at the end of the book to save the day. Didn't see that one coming!

Lengthy Sequels

You all know what I'm talking about. Those never ending, characters get lost on the way to the fight of their lives and nothing really happens. Terrible formula for a trilogy.